Q&A: Elections
Elections
Question
In Haredi cities they launched a major campaign, in which all the rabbis joined the call to go out and vote for their candidate.
In some places it was written that this is a “war for survival.”
I thought: if we’re talking about wars, wouldn’t it be better to study Torah for the candidate’s merit instead of going out to vote?
(Sorry in advance for the trolling; I’m just worried that in this case even you would agree that the Haredim should study instead of going out to vote, and that it would have a positive effect.)
Answer
The weasel of “effort” always saves us. When is there an obligation to make effort, and to what extent? The great sages of the generation, with their wondrous knowledge, surely have the answer.
Discussion on Answer
Michi, doesn’t your negative view of the Haredim’s behavior in the state contradict your belief? I mean, they’re completely righteous according to the Jewish law you follow, no..?
That’s what I wrote in parentheses.
It even sounds good as a slogan: “And you shall do according to all that they instruct you” is already worn out; I suggest: “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall remain silent.”
Ohad,
They’re not righteous, certainly not completely righteous. Most individual Haredim are like children taken captive or people under compulsion, and the public as a collective is wicked.
Indeed, on the religious side (the dry halakhic side), they are generally perfectly fine. That’s not where Michi’s criticism is directed (or mine), as I understand it.
P.S. It’s important to me to note that I know clear-eyed Haredim who belong to that public only sociologically, for reasons of convenience, and I’m not talking about them here (and presumably neither is Michi).
For now I’ll accept what you’re saying, because I really don’t understand this very well. But the idea that there is a God and the Haredi public as a collective is wicked feels very strange to me. I’m confused by the specificity of certain beliefs. God yes, religion yes, Haredim no?
What’s confusing you?
We all share the same belief. I already wrote: this isn’t a dispute with any religious background at all.
It’s like I can say: God yes, religion yes, Smotrich no.
The importance of the thing you agree on (belief) is too great for you to call them wicked because of various other reasons. It sounds marginal to me..
They say there are two main things that distinguish the U.S. from England: an ocean and a language.
And one more note. If they study instead of voting, that will certainly turn out for the best, because then Haredim won’t be elected. That is definitely for the best.